Schlumbergera plant named &#39;PKMSchlum05&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Schlumbergera truncata  (Haworth) Moran hybr. plant named ‘PKMSch105’, characterized by its dense growth habit and white colored flowers. When grown at low temperatures the flowers are light pink (as shown in the figures).

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES CLAIMED

Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PKMSch105’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSchlumbergera plant, botanically known as Schlumbergera truncata(Haworth) Moran hybr., common name Christmas Cactus, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety denomination ‘PKMSch105’.

The new Schlumbergera is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark. The new Schlumbergeraoriginated from an outcrossing made in 2004 by the Inventor between twoproprietary, unnamed cultivars of Schlumbergera truncata hybr. TheInventor selected the new Schlumbergera cultivar from the progeny of theabove crossing in 2006 on the basis of its flower color and compact,freely branching habit. Plants of the new Schlumbergera are more uprightand compact and thus better suited to production in 5.5 cm pots.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by phylloclade cuttings takenand propagated and trial production batches in Søhus, Denmark, has shownthat the unique features of this new Schlumbergera are stable andreproduce true to type in many successive generations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PKMSch105’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PKMSch105’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Smaller phylloclades and flowers; and

2. Higher number of flowers and phylloclades per plant.

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSch105’ can be compared to plants of theSchlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr. cultivar ‘Malissa’(unpatented). However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted overseveral seasons by the inventor in Søhus, Denmark, plants of thecultivar ‘PKMSch105’ and the cultivar ‘Malissa’ differ in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have smaller and more phyllocladesthan plants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’.

2. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have phylloclades with smaller teeththan plants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’.

3. Plants of the new Schlumbergera have smaller and more flowers thanplants of the cultivar ‘Malissa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand details of flower form color and structures of the new cultivar,showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain incolored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differslightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the claimedvariety.

Photographs were taken after production at low temperatures (12° C.) forthe final three weeks before the start of flowering and show the lightpink flower color associated with the low temperature production.Production at higher, normal temperatures (18° C.) will yield almostentirely white flowers.

FIG. 1—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSch105’ as grown in a 5.5 cm pot.

FIG. 2—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSch105’.

FIG. 3—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSch105’.

FIG. 4—shows a typical plant of ‘PKMSch105’ in comparison with two otherSchlumbergera varieties, as grown in 9 cm pots.

FIG. 5—shows a typical flower and phylloclade of ‘PKMSch105’ incomparison with a typical flower and phylloclade from two otherSchlumbergera varieties.

FIG. 6—shows typical buds of ‘PKMSch105’ in comparison with typical budsfrom two other Schlumbergera varieties.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants of the cultivar ‘PKMSch105’ have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, and fertility level without, however, any variance in genotype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition, where general termsof ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants were grown undergreenhouse conditions. Plants used for this description are about 12months old.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.        -   Variety Denomination.—‘PKMSch105’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—proprietary selection of            Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.        -   Male or pollen parent.—proprietary selection of            Schlumbergera truncata (Haworth) Moran hybr.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Single mature phylloclades.        -   Form.—Perennial plant (epiphyte), plants have an upright            shape and branched growth habit. Flowers singular, double,            or triple at apical ends of terminal phylloclades. Freely            branching with one to four new phylloclades forming at the            apical ends of older phylloclades.        -   Crop time.—After rooting, about 12 months are required to            produce finished flowering plants in 5.5 cm pots.-   Plant:    -   -   Plant height (soil level to top of plant, 3 levels of            phylloclades, excl. flowers).—12.5 cm.        -   Vigor.—Good.        -   Growth rate.—Slow.        -   Plant spread.—18-20 cm.        -   Lateral branch length.—(3 levels of phylloclades): 10 cm.-   Phylloclades:    -   -   Quantity per lateral branch.—12-15.        -   Length.—4.0 to 4.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.5 to 3.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Truncate with 2 protruding marginal teeth, 3-4 mm in            length. Barbellulate with 10-15 short bristles.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Serrate, 2-4 teeth per phylloclade, 1-3 mm in            length.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Color.—RHS NN137A, Green.        -   Venation pattern.—Costate.        -   Venation color.—RHS 144C, Yellow-Green.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming season.—October to December in the Northern            hemisphere. Can be changed with short day treatments.            Flowers appear 8-9 weeks after end of short day treatment.        -   Longevity on plant.—Highly dependent on temperature, and            light conditions; generally 5 to 6 days. Flowers are            persistent.        -   Buds.—Aspect: Upright to outward. Length: Up to 3 cm before            unfolding of tepals. Diameter: Up to 1 cm before unfolding            of tepals. Shape: Ovoid to lanceolatoid. Color: RHS 4D,            yellow in small (˜1 cm) buds; RHS 55C, red at tips and RHS            155D, white at base in larger (˜3 cm) buds. Buds changing            from white to pink with increasing bud size when grown at            12° C.        -   Flowers.—Arrangement: 1-3 sessile flowers on apical            phylloclades. Shape and form: Zygomorphic; tubular with            lobes (tepals) extruding at base and at tube end. Fragrance:            None. Tepal Arrangement: Inner whorl of tepals fused to form            a tube. Corolla tepals are initially at right angle to tube,            later somewhat reflexed. Tepal Number: 10 in fused inner            whorl forming the tube; 5-7 more or less free tepals in            outer whorl. Tepal Shape: Narrow Ovate Tepal Apex:            Apiculate. Tepal Margin: Entire Tepal Length: 20-25 mm Tepal            Width: 10 mm Tube Diameter: 10-12 mm. Flower Diameter: 5 cm            Tube Depth: 2.5 cm. Flower Depth: 6.5 cm (including ovary).            Texture: Silky Color: When opening, upper side: lobes RHS            NN155D, White. When opening, under side: lobes RHS NN155D,            White. Fully opened, upper side: lobes RHS NN155D, White.            Fully opened, under side: lobes RHS NN155D, White; tube            N66C, red-purple when grown at 12° C. for last 3 weeks            before flowering. At higher, normal temperatures (18° C.),            flowers are almost completely white RHS NN155D. Tepal color            fading: No fading.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen.—Number: Many, polyandrous, phaneranherous. Shape:            Incurved. Some filaments fused to perianth tube (connate).        -   Anther.—Shape: Basifixed; ovoid Color: RHS 11C, yellow.            Length: 1-2 mm. Pollen: Plenty; color RHS 11D yellow.        -   Filament.—Length: 4-5 cm. Color: RHS 155D, translucent            white.        -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 55 mm Shape: Slightly curved.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Claw-like. Color: RHS 61B, red-purple.        -   Style.—Color: RHS N66A, red-purple. Length: 55 mm.        -   Ovary.—Color: RHS 144C, yellow green.-   Seeds: None observed.-   Weather tolerance: Tolerant to a high temperature of 40° C. and a    low temperature of 2° C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Not tested.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Schlumbergera plant named ‘PKMSch105’,as illustrated and described herein.